This charity never ceases to blow us away here at The Neumark Foundation. Their whole aim is to brighten the lives of Deaf children, and since our request for them to do what they do so incredibly well, up here in North Wales, 3 years ago, the difference they have made is beyond words. This summer has been no exception for Chloe’s and Sophie’s Special Ears Fund (CSSEF), founded 13 years ago, by Hampshire based mum, Karen Jackson, whose daughters, Chloe and Sophie, are both Deaf, along with her husband Brian, who works alongside Karen with the charity.
This summer CSSEF has arranged wonderful activities for 116 Deaf children and their families across Flintshire, Wrexham and Denbighshire, and here is CSSEF Wish Granting Champion, Zeta Lloyd to tell us all about it.
Our Summer fun by Zeta Lloyd for deaf children (CSSEF Wish Granting Champion, North Wales)
Chloe’s and Sophie’s Special Ears Fund wanted to give the children that we work with in Flintshire, Wrexham, and Denbighshire a summer to remember. We had a full list of activities planned for the children to do. We wanted to make sure it was fun and that the whole family could get involved. This summer we welcomed the families from the Denbighshire area, and it gave them the chance to meet the families from Flintshire and Wrexham.
First on the list was an afternoon of sports, dance and drama being held at Ty Calon luckily the rain held off and the children had a fantastic time playing Tag rugby, dodge-ball and multi-sport and then some dance and drama. The children were exhausted at the end of it but plenty of smiles on their faces.
Next up was H.A.C.K this was a much slower pace for the children. We visited the horse sanctuary in Wrexham the children got to meet the animals that now live at the sanctuary they learnt about how the animals came to live there and any special care that they need. They were allowed to feed the animals and they got to brush and walk the ponies it was lovely to see the children interacting with the animals they didn’t want to leave.
Then came the energetic trip to Flip Out Trampoline Park this was an action-packed visit with plenty to do on the day. With access to the trampolines, go karts, laser quest, football, ninja course, inflatables and slides, the children didn’t know where to start. Some very exhausted children and parents at the end of this visit.
We hired Plas Madoc swimming pool for the next activity. We had full access to the swimming pool, the flume slides, the wave pool, the floats, and rafts, and for the smaller less confident swimmers the smaller pool and slide was available. Wow we had some good swimmers and they loved trying to beat the waves.
For all the football fans we took them to the Football Lab in Mostyn where they got to learn some new ball skills with the coaches, do some tackling, play some football and they all received a medal at the end of the session.
Last but not least, we calmed it down with our summer themed Arts & Craft session at the Wellbeing Hub in Wrexham. The children made crabs from toilet rolls, pictures with shells and pasta made some rainbow fish with paper plates and cakes cases and played with the lego and board games.
CSSEF have loved spending the time with our families over the summer and are looking forward to arranging the next set of activities.
Thank you from The Neumark Foundation
A huge thank you CSSEF from all of us here at The Neumark Foundation for your incredible work and the difference you make.
If you would like to find out more about CSSEF you can go to http://www.cssef.org.uk or email Zeta Lloyd [email protected]